Ashland: the so-called “World headquarters of nice people.” Not so if you try to get into the county fair for free because you have a media pass and permission to film for a class assignment.

My partner for COMAR 224 and I were doing a project on the Motocross event at the Ashland County Fair. We needed video and photo coverage, as well as notes to write a story, so we grabbed our equipment and passes to get us in for free and drove over.

We pulled into the first parking lot and were greeted by a parking attendant. My partner, Tim, was driving the car. The elderly, somewhat-overweight parking attendant walked to our car and stood maybe six inches from Tim’s face.

About two minutes of silence passed as the parking attendant sucked on the dip in his cheek.

“Heyyyyy,” said Tim nervously. The attendant stared while he shifted his tobacco.

“What do y’all think yer doin’?” he said, condescendingly.

“Is this a parking lot?” Tim asked, in the parking lot.

“Not unless y’all have a calf,” said the attendant, spitting his dip onto the ground.

So instead, we pulled into a grassy field which served as the parking lot and walked to the front gate, where we showed our passes (which we were supposed to keep). The gate troll snatched them out of our hands and angrily motioned us into the fair.

Pushing through the toothless vendors and ignoring the constant harassment about carrying our video cameras, we finally arrived at the stadium. We were both prepared to pay the steep five dollars to get into the Motocross when the lady at the ticket booth told us that we didn’t have to pay.

We were dumbfounded – a nice person? Here in this sea of spite and condescension? We ecstatically thanked her for letting us in and headed for the gate.

Another couple trolls guarded the entrance to the stadium. We explained what the nice lady at the ticket booth had told us, but the trolls persisted and eyed us with burning hostility.

Eventually, they let us pass and we trudged across the field to cover the event. At some point, we exited one gate and entered again, where we were stopped by yet another person who barraged us with questions. This was of course, after the event was over.

Point is – it’s the fair. I understand not wanting to let people sneak in, but are you really going to chew us out over two five dollar tickets? When we have media passes?

Also, why is us getting in to an event after it’s over a big deal? Why do people in positions such as gate keeper feel the need to elevate themselves over everyone else? Would being nice really kill them?

I’ve never really been interested in fairs, but I went into the Ashland County Fair with an open mind and a smile. I was rewarded with blank stares and contempt. I’m never going to the fair again…unless my girlfriend makes me…or there is a Ferris wheel. It’s hard to turn my girlfriend down and I mean, Ferris wheels are good (shrug).